University of Texas of the Rio Grande Valley Online MSW Program
The University of Texas of the Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) offers an online Master of Social Work (MSW) program through its School of Social Work. The online program is available in two tracks: an Advanced Standing 30-hour program for applicants who hold a BSW from a CSWE-accredited institution, and a Regular Standing 60-hour program for applicants whose undergraduate degree is in a field other than social work. Both tracks are delivered entirely online and include a required field practicum component with no campus visits required.
Sponsored Online MSW Programs
As the second largest Hispanic-serving institution in the nation, UTRGV’s MSW program is designed to prepare students to work with diverse communities, with particular depth in serving Latino populations. The curriculum emphasizes trauma-informed practice, global social work, policy advocacy, and program evaluation. Graduates are eligible to sit for the Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) exam upon completing the degree.
The University of Texas of the Rio Grande Valley’s Master of Social Work program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), and the university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
University of Texas of the Rio Grande Valley Online MSW Program: Overview
Department: School of Social Work
Degree Types: Advanced Standing (30 credit hours); Regular Standing (60 credit hours)
Program Structure: Online with field placements (no campus visits required)
Phone: 956-665-3575 (alt: 956-665-2972)
Program Requirements
- Advanced Standing (30-hour program)
- BSW from a CSWE-accredited program
- Overall undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0
- GPA of 3.2 or higher in social work core undergraduate courses
- Three recommendation forms
- Personal statement detailing professional goals and reasons for pursuing the degree Verified completion of a course in basic statistics
- Current professional resume (including dates and specific duties)
- Regular Standing (60-hour program)
- Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution in a similar or related field (BSW holders are not eligible for this track)
- Overall undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0
- Three recommendation forms
- Personal statement detailing professional goals and reasons for pursuing the degree Verified completion of a course in basic statistics
- Current professional resume (including dates and specific duties)
- GRE: Not required for either track
Program Length
- Advanced Standing (30-hour online):
- Fall start (Early): 4-semester or 7-semester completion plan
- Fall start (Regular): 7-semester completion plan
- Spring start: 8-semester completion plan
- Regular Standing (60-hour online):
- Fall start (Early): 4-semester or 7-semester completion plan F
- all start (Regular): 7-semester completion plan
- Spring start: 8-semester completion plan
- Start Dates: Fall and Spring
Application Deadlines (both tracks)
- Fall Early: May 15 (notifications by June 10)
- Fall Regular: June 20 (notifications by August 1)
- Spring: October 20 (notifications by November 15)
Curriculum — Advanced Standing (30 hours)
- Required Courses: 18 hours — covering Global Social Work Practice, Multi-Dimensional Clinical Assessment from a Trauma Informed Lens, Advanced Community and Organizational Practice, Social Policy Analysis and Advocacy, Trauma Informed Advanced Practice, and Practice and Program Evaluation
- Prescribed Electives: 6 hours — selected from options including Trauma Specific Practice with Children and Families, School Social Work Practice, Forensic Social Work, Grant Writing and Program Development, and Global Leadership for Social and Organizational Change, among others
- Field Education: 6 hours — Advanced Generalist Field Education I and II
Curriculum — Regular Standing (60 hours)
- Required Courses: 36 hours — covering Human Behavior and the Social Environment (I and II), Social Welfare Policies & Programs, Practice with Individuals and Families, Practice with Groups and Communities, Applied Social Work Research, Global Social Work Practice, Multi-Dimensional Clinical Assessment from a Trauma Informed Lens, Advanced Community and Organizational Practice, Social Policy Analysis and Advocacy, Trauma Informed Advanced Practice, and Practice and Program Evaluation
- Prescribed Electives: 12 hours — selected from options including Social Work Practice with Latinos, Domestic Violence in Society, Substance Use and the Family, Forensic Social Work, Social Work in Healthcare, Social Work with Older Adults, Spirituality and Social Work, Foundations of Integrated Behavioral Health, and others
- Field Education: 12 hours — Generalist Field Education I and II, and Advanced Generalist Field Education I and II
Academic Standards
Students in both tracks must maintain a 3.0 GPA throughout the program. A student whose GPA drops below 3.0 in any semester is placed on academic probation; if the GPA does not recover within the following nine credit hours, the student is dismissed. Earning more than two C grades — regardless of overall GPA — results in automatic dismissal, as does earning an F in any course. Students dismissed from the program are not eligible for readmission.
Licensure and Background Check
This program leads to a profession requiring an occupational license under the Texas Occupations Code. All applicants seeking LMSW licensure must undergo a criminal background check prior to licensure.
Admissions Process
All applications are reviewed by the School of Social Work MSW Admissions Review Committee. Applications must be submitted by the published deadline at utrgv.edu/gradapply.
University of Texas of the Rio Grande Valley’s MSW program information was last updated in March 2026. For more information, visit the university’s website above.
If you have additional information about this program, email us at contactus@onlinemswprograms.com.